Excavator and ditching-plow



G. A. ROBBINS.

) EXGAVATOR ANDDITGHING PLOW. No. 11,948. .PATENTED NOV. 14, 1854.

CHARLES A. ROBBINS, OF IOWA CITY, IOWA.

EXCAVATOR AND DITCHINGr-PLOW.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 11,948, dated November 14, 1854.

To all whom it may concern 3 Be it known that I, CHARLES A. ROBBINS,

of Iowa City, in the county of Johnson and State of Iowa, have inventeda new and Improved Excavator and Ditching-Plow; and I do hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theconstruction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure1, is a plan or top view of my improved machine. Fig. 2, is a side viewof ditto. Fig. 3, is a transverse section of ditto, taken at the line(as), Fig. 2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

This invention relates to a new and improved excavator and ditchingplow, and consists, 1st, in the employment or use of a verticalreciprocating cutter, so arranged and adjusted to the share, as to cutthe earth into sods or pieces, as the machine is drawn along, andthereby rendering theearth easy of removal, either by hand or by endlessaprons.

To enable others skilled in the art, to fully understand and constructmy invention, I will proceed to describe its construction.

A, A, represent the beams constructed in the usual manner, and providedat their 3 outer ends with gauge ,wheels for regulating the depth ofplowing.

B, represents the share formed of two vertical side pieces (a), (at),having a horizontal bottom plate (1)), the sides and bottom plate havingknife edges, One of the sides (a), projects some distance beyond theother side, so that the cutting edge of the bottom plate (1)), has anoblique or diagonal position compared with the beams A, A, or

the line of draught, and consequently the I plate (6), acts with adrawing out upon the earth, see Fig. 1. The cutting edges of the sidepieces (0;), (a), are also curved from their upper ends outward totheirlower ends, for the same purpose, see Fig. 2.

C, is a vertical reciprocating cutter, placed transversely between thetwo side pieces (a), (a), of the share, and (c), (c), are rods which aresecured to the upper edge of the cutter, and work through guides orsockets (d), (cl), the rods being connected at their upper ends by across rod (6) shown clearly in Fig. 3.

D, is a transverse shaft running in suitable bearings in the beams A. A;and E, is a wiper wheel on said shaft which acts upon the cross rod (6),as it rotates, mot-ion being given the wiper wheel by a band (f), whichpasses around a pulley (g), on one of the gauge. wheels, and around apulley (h), on one end of the shaft D, see Fig. 1.

F, is a spring which acts upon the cross rod (6), and depresses thecutter C, as the pro ections on the wiper wheel, in rotating,

pass from underneath the cross rod.

G, is an inclined endless apron placed at the back of the share B, andbetween the beams A, A, motion is given this apron by means of a. band(i), which passes around the pulley (h), on the shaft D, and also arounda pulley (j), on the lower roller of the endless apron G, see Fig. 1.

H, is an inclined plate attached at its upper end by pivots (is), (is),to the lower end of the frame of the endless apron G; the lower end ofthis plate rests upon the back part of the horizontal plate (12), whichforms the bottom of the share B, see Figs. 1 and 2.

I, is an endless apron which is placed transversely at the back end ofthe apron G, see Fig. 1. This apron I, is horizontally placed, andcommunicates with an inclined apron J; the frame K, of which is securedby hinges or pivots (Z), (Z), to one end of the frame K, of the apron I,see Fig. 1. Attached to the lower part of the frame K, of the apron J,there is a horizontal frame L, supported at its outer end bya wheel M,

which was upon the ground, see Figs. 2

and 3.

N, N, are segment arms attached to the undersides of the frame K, andpassing through the sides of the horizontal frame L. The segment armsare provided with set screws or pins, whereby the endless apron J, maybe more or less inclined, as desired.

Motion is given the aprons, I, J, by means of a belt (m), which passesaround a pulley (n), on the axis of the wheel M, and around a pulley(0), on a shaft in the horizontal frame L; said shaft having a pulley(p), at one end, around which, a belt (g), passes; said belt alsopassing around a pulley (1"), on the lower roller of the apron J. A belt(s),'also passes around the pulley (1"), and a pulley (t), in one of therollers of the apron I, as shown in Fig. 1. The machine beingdrawnalong, the share B, penetrates the earth which passes into the sharebetween the sides (a), (a), and the reciprocating vertical cutter C,cuts the earth into sods or pieces, which pass up the inclined guideplate H, upon the apron G, and are con veyed by said apron upon theapron Land from thence upon the apron J, which deposits them in a cart,or wagon which is driven along underneath the apron J, at the same rateof speed as the machine; said apron J, being raised or lowered by meansof the segment arms N, N, so as to suit the height of said cart orwagon, and also to suit the character of the earth, which, if loose ordry, will require the apron J, to be ratherdepressed to prevent itsfalling back; but: if tenacious and damp, the apron may be considerablyelevated.

In cases where itis not desirable to have the earth carried away fromthe place eXca-l vated, as in ditching, Where the earth is fre-? quentlyrequired for forming embankments at the sides of the ditch, the guideplate H,

is elevated, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2, and the earthpasses through the share, and remains cut in pieces in the ditchor-furrow, and is removed by hand to the desired place.

I do not claim a series of endless aprons for conveying the earth intocarts or Wagons,

irrespective of forming one or more of them 5 of rendering the eartheasy of removal,

either by hand or byendless a rons.

CHARLES A. OBBINS. Witnesses:

H. W. F YFFE, J 0s. E. Farms.

